The Public Posting Effect

[AnonUnlimited]

This is something I have to wonder about.

Why is it when two people have a disagreement, and it's posted in a public place or a forum, it always seem to get out of hand. Yet neither side is ever interested in it going to PM?

Thoughts?

 

[RepresentingWrath]

Bruh.

 

[HelloHound]

I guess it might be a little bit of laziness; like it never occurs for the two to go somewhere more private to continue their discussion or maybe they enjoy talking it out in public, like it's some sort of play. The type of people to listen to videos on max volume in public and not wear headphones
I had a whole conversation happen under a comment I made on a story and to this day I get leery of it happening again

 

[georgelee5786]

Thet are too caught up in the moment

 

[AnonUnlimited]

Personally, my theory is that whenever there is an argument, there is sort of the "audience effect" where they feel like they have to defend their points as people might judge them for it.

 

[LunaSoltaer]

When one argues or debates, it is not to change the other person's mind as it is unlikely to change. Instead, it is for members of the audience, who may or may not be swayed one way or the other.

This effect is gone in private messages.

 

[Deleted member 54065]

Everyone wants to flare it up, especially when there's nothing else to do. Think of it as a scene in a subway where people would jeer, pull out their phones and record fights, instead of calling for authorities to break it up, or moving away.

Also, some would love to have others see themselves as some sort of an 'intellectual'...like those who love to throw complicated words to catch off an online 'enemy' and 'impress' a gullible audience.

And of course, the people involved in the debate themselves. While some would love to answer arguments thrown at them, others would like to see that their 'rival' be seen as the intellectually-inferior one.

Hence, public posts tend to go out of hand.

 

[AnonUnlimited]

When one argues or debates, it is not to change the other person's mind as it is unlikely to change. Instead, it is for members of the audience, who may or may not be swayed one way or the other.

This effect is gone in private messages.

The thing is, most of the time there is hardly an audience. Most people have already made up their minds, and so arguing online is largely pointless.

Most audience are TLDR unless the side they don't like is winning, then they start trying to 'help'. It's kind of funny.

 

[Deleted member 54065]

It's pretty similar to when I got involved in an accident.

When I was thrown off my motorcycle and the vehicle crushed my knee cap, an SUV was there, nearby.

The driver rolled down his window and recorded me on his phone. I only got helped when the guard from a nearby subdivision and another motorcycle stopped to lift the vehicle off me.

I was thinking that maybe the SUV driver later uploaded the video on Facebook with the caption: "Poor driver. 1 like = 1 prayer".

 

[AnonUnlimited]

It's pretty similar to when I got involved in an accident.

When I was thrown off my motorcycle and the vehicle crushed my knee cap, an SUV was there, nearby.

The driver rolled down his window and recorded me on his phone. I only got helped when the guard from a nearby subdivision and another motorcycle stopped to lift the vehicle off me.

I was thinking that maybe the SUV driver later uploaded the video on Facebook with the caption: "Poor driver. 1 like = 1 prayer".

Hmm.. I think that's called the bystander effect.

I think the Public Posting effect is a bit different. I've just been noticing a pattern on twitter and other site like reddit that when people argue they seem to think like they have to defend their anonymous reputation.

 

[Deleted member 54065]

Hmm.. I think that's called the bystander effect.

I think the Public Posting effect is a bit different. I've just been noticing a pattern on twitter and other site like reddit that when people argue they seem to think like they have to defend their anonymous reputation.

Bystander for the audience.

For those involved themselves, however, they don't want to be seen as 'weak' and 'intellectually-inferior' which they attribute to backing out of answering argument.

 

[Sola-sama]

This is something I have to wonder about.

Why is it when two people have a disagreement, and it's posted in a public place or a forum, it always seem to get out of hand. Yet neither side is ever interested in it going to PM?

Thoughts?

Idk, maybe it's just fun? I tend to hold back a lot after reading a lot of @ControversialOpinion or @Anon2023 's antics, but there was a time when venting or shitposting is just fun. Though, I doubt it is for everyone.

 

[AnonUnlimited]

Bystander for the audience.

For those involved themselves, however, they don't want to be seen as 'weak' and 'intellectually-inferior' which they attribute to backing out of answering argument.

Honestly I think it's more than that because there is also a tendency to want to bait the other person into arguing more.
I'd say it's more of wanting to seem "strong" or "intellectually superior" or perhaps wanting to defend their worldview because they are in fact weak.

When I used to argue on Facebook for fun, I'd usually corner most of the people I argue with using sound logic and eventually you get a lot of tangential arguments from other people who are on their side. Usually, when an argument challenges people's world view they feel this sort of need to argue, but when people are secure in being right they tend to not care.

Which is why you tend to see a lot of people getting angry online, and when they sense the their side isn't winning, they become angrier and they name call to try and drag them into a mud fight of some sort. It's quite bizarre.

 

[Deleted member 54065]

As for me? Someone from here did engage me in an argument before.

My foolish mistake was to return the provocations, especially at the time I'm irritated and the heat of my place is unbearable. Guy threw complicated words, called names and spun sentences, blah, blah.

When I came to my senses, I apologized and broke off argument. It's stupid to continue.

I also decided to ignore, to preserve my peace of mind; guy's toxic AF.

 

[georgelee5786]

Personally, my theory is that whenever there is an argument, there is sort of the "audience effect" where they feel like they have to defend their points as people might judge them for it.

Or the desire to have many people see how right you are/how wrong your opponent is.

 

[AnonUnlimited]

Idk, maybe it's just fun? I tend to hold back a lot after reading a lot of @ControversialOpinion or @Anon2023 's antics, but there was a time when venting or shitposting is just fun. Though, I doubt it is for everyone.

Shitposting is definitely fun, it's just it can easily become toxic if not everyone is aware of it, or if you're not aware of other's triggers.

Or the desire to have many people see how right you are/how wrong your opponent is.

Or maybe they're just trying to post grind so they have more messages.

 

[georgelee5786]

Shitposting is definitely fun, it's just it can easily become toxic if not everyone is aware of it, or if you're not aware of other's triggers.

Or maybe they're just trying to post grind so they have more messages.

I'm the king of shf, not you

 

[EternalEscape]

It is very not fun when you have to bring stuff over anywhere else, as far as I know. I have a similar problem whenever we were shit-talking over work radio (should not have) and get called out by boss to carry it over the casual radio, which is just one button away. Yet it feel like a kick in the butt.

The Eternal Escape For One's Soul

 

[Deleted member 54065]

I'm the king of shf, not you

May I remind His Majesty that the Great Comrade Anon2023skiy is a Premier, not the King.

Also, His Majesty George I Lee is the Emperor and Khan, so please keep that in mind, Sir.

 

[Prince_Azmiran_Myrian]

If nobody sees the opposing ideas, they will continue as if one side is unopposed. Public arguments (if not gone insulting) expose as many people as possible to other reasonings.
Personal insults will undermine these intentions, so stay away from attacking debaters personally. Attack the ideas with reason.